G.S. ch. 47, art. 2

in effect

G.S. 47-17 Probate and registration sufficient without livery of seizin, etc.

§ 47-17. Probate and registration sufficient without livery of seizin, etc. All deeds, contracts or leases, before registration, except those executed prior to January 1, 1870, shall be acknowledged by the grantor, lessor or the person executing the same, or their signature proven on oath by one or more witnesses in the manner prescribed by law, and all deeds executed and registered according to law shall be valid, and pass title and estates without livery of seizin, attornment or other ceremony. (29, Ch. II, c. 3; 1715, c. 7; 1756, c. 58, s. 3; 1838-9, c. 33; R.C., c. 37, s. 1; Code, s. 1245; 1885, c. 147, s. 3; 1905, c. 277; Rev., s. 979; C.S., s. 3308.)

G.S. 47-17.1 Documents registered or ordered to be registered in certain counties to designate draftsman; exceptions.

§ 47-17.1. Documents registered or ordered to be registered in certain counties to designate draftsman; exceptions. The register of deeds of any county in North Carolina shall not accept for registration, nor shall any judge order registration pursuant to G.S. 47-14, of any deeds or deeds of trust, executed after January 1, 1980, unless the first page of the deeds or deeds of trust bears an entry showing the name of the drafter of the deed or deed of trust. The register of deeds shall not be required to verify or make inquiry concerning the capacity or authority of the person or entity shown as the drafter on the instrument. (1953, c. 1160; 1955, cc. 54, 59, 87, 88, 264, 280, 410, 628, 655; 1957, cc. 431, 469, 932, 982, 1119, 1290; 1959, cc. 266, 312, 548, 589; 1961, cc. 789, 1167; 1965, cc. 160, 597, 830; 1967, cc. 42, 139; c. 639, s. 2; c. 658; 1969, c. 10; 1971, c. 46; 1973, cc. 65, 283, 342; 1979, c. 703; 1981, c. 362, ss. 1, 2; 2011-351, s. 3; 2018-80, s. 2.1; 2020-50, s. 3(a), (b); 2020-69, s. 6(a), (b).)

G.S. 47-17.2 Assignments of mortgages, deeds of trust, or other agreements pledging real property as security.

§ 47-17.2. Assignments of mortgages, deeds of trust, or other agreements pledging real property as security. It shall not be necessary in order to effect a valid assignment of a note and deed of trust, mortgage, or other agreement pledging real property or an interest in real property as security for an obligation, to record a written assignment in the office of the register of deeds in the county in which the real property is located. A transfer of the promissory note or other instrument secured by the deed of trust, mortgage, or other security interest that constitutes an effective assignment under the law of this State shall be an effective assignment of the deed of trust, mortgage, or other security instrument. The assignee of the note shall have the right to enforce all obligations contained in the promissory note or other agreement, and all the rights of the assignor in the deed of trust, mortgage, or other security instrument, including the right to substitute the trustee named in any deed of trust, and to exercise any power of sale contained in the instrument without restriction. The provisions of this section do not preclude the recordation of a written assignment of a deed of trust, mortgage, or other security instrument, with or without the promissory note or other instrument that it secures, provided that the assignment complies with applicable law. (1993, c. 288, s. 4.)

G.S. 47-18 Conveyances, contracts to convey, options, and leases of land.

§ 47-18. Conveyances, contracts to convey, options, and leases of land. (a) No (i) conveyance of land, (ii) contract to convey, (iii) option to purchase or convey, (iv) lease of land for more than three years, (v) right of first refusal, or (vi) right of first offer is valid to pass any property interest as against lien creditors or purchasers for a valuable consideration from the donor, bargainor, or lessor but from the time of its registration in the county where the land lies, or if the land is located in more than one county, then in each county where any portion of the land lies to be effective as to the land in that county. Unless otherwise stated either on the registered instrument or on a separate registered instrument duly executed by the party whose priority interest is adversely affected, (i) instruments registered in the office of the register of deeds have priority based on the order of registration as determined by the time of registration, and (ii) if instruments are registered simultaneously, then the instruments are presumed to have priority determined as follows: (1) The earliest document number set forth on the registered instrument. (2) The sequential book and page number set forth on the registered instrument if no document number is set forth on the registered instrument. The presumption created by this subsection is rebuttable. (b) This section shall not apply to contracts, leases or deeds executed prior to March 1, 1885, until January 1, 1886; and no purchase from any such donor, bargainor or lessor shall avail or pass title as against any unregistered deed executed prior to December 1, 1885, when the person holding or claiming under such unregistered deed shall be in actual possession and enjoyment of such land, either in person or by his tenant, at the time of the execution of such second deed, or when the person claiming under or taking such second deed had at the time of taking or purchasing under such deed actual or constructive notice of such unregistered deed, or the claim of the person holding or claiming thereunder. (Code, s. 1245; 1885, c. 147, s. 1; Rev., s. 980; C.S., s. 3309; 1959, c. 90; 1975, c. 507; 2003-219, s. 2; 2005-212, s. 2; 2021-91, s. 10.)

G.S. 47-18.1 Registration of certificate of entity name change, merger, consolidation, or conversion.

§ 47-18.1. Registration of certificate of entity name change, merger, consolidation, or conversion. (a) If title to real property in this State is vested by operation of law in another entity upon the name change, merger, consolidation, or conversion of an entity, the vesting is effective against lien creditors or purchasers for a valuable consideration from the entity formerly owning the property, only from the time of registration of a certificate as provided in this section, in the county where the land lies, or if the land is located in more than one county, then in each county where any portion of the land lies to be effective as to the land in that county. (b) The Secretary of State shall adopt uniform certificates of name change, merger, consolidation, or conversion, to be furnished for registration, and shall adopt fees as necessary for the expense of these certifications. If the entity involved is not a domestic entity, a similar certificate by any competent authority in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization may be registered in accordance with this section. (c) A certificate of the Secretary of State prepared in accordance with this section shall be registered by the register of deeds in the same manner as deeds, and for the same fees, but no formalities as to acknowledgment, probate, or approval by any other officer are required. The name of the entity formerly owning the property shall appear in the "Grantor" index, and the name of the entity owning the property by virtue of the merger, consolidation, or conversion shall appear in the "Grantee" index. (1967, c. 950, s. 3; 1991, c. 645, s. 2(b); 1999-369, s. 5.1; 2022-64, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-18.2 Registration of Inheritance and Estate Tax Waiver.

§ 47-18.2. Registration of Inheritance and Estate Tax Waiver. An Inheritance and Estate Tax Waiver or other consent to transfer issued by the Secretary of Revenue bearing the signature of the Secretary of Revenue or the official facsimile signature of the Secretary of Revenue may be registered by the Register of Deeds in the county or counties where the real estate described in the Inheritance and Estate Tax Waiver or consent to transfer is located in the same manner as deeds, and for the same fees, but no formalities as to acknowledgement, probate, or approval by an officer shall be required. The name of the decedent owning the real property at death shall appear in the "Grantor" index. Nothing herein shall require a personal representative or other person interested in the decedent's estate to register Inheritance and Estate Tax Waivers or consents to transfer. (1987, c. 548, s. 3.)

G.S. 47-18.3 Execution of corporate instruments; authority and proof.

§ 47-18.3. Execution of corporate instruments; authority and proof. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the bylaws or articles of incorporation or the operating agreement or articles of organization, when it appears on the face of an instrument registered in the office of the register of deeds that the instrument was signed in the ordinary course of business on behalf of a domestic or foreign corporation or a domestic or foreign limited liability company by its chairman, president, chief executive officer, a vice-president, assistant vice-president, treasurer, chief financial officer, chief operations officer, general counsel, deputy or assistant general counsel, manager, member, director, or other fiduciary duly authorized by the applicable business entity's statutes or governing documents, such an instrument shall be as valid with respect to the rights of innocent third parties as if executed pursuant to authorization from the board of directors, unless the instrument reveals on its face a potential breach of fiduciary obligation. The subsection shall not apply to parties who had actual knowledge of lack of authority or of a breach of fiduciary obligation. (b) Any instrument registered in the office of the register of deeds, appearing on its face to be executed by a corporation or limited liability company, foreign or domestic, and bearing a seal which purports to be the corporate seal, setting forth the name of the corporation engraved, lithographed, printed, stamped, impressed upon, or otherwise affixed to the instrument, is prima facie evidence that the seal is the duly adopted corporate seal of the corporation, that it has been affixed as such by an individual duly authorized so to do, that the instrument was duly executed and signed by individuals who were officers or agents of the corporation acting by authority duly given by the board of directors, and that any such instrument is the act of the corporation, and shall be admissible in evidence without further proof of execution. (c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to exclude the power of any corporate or limited liability company representatives to bind the corporation or limited liability company pursuant to express, implied, inherent or apparent authority, ratification, estoppel, or otherwise. (d) Nothing in this section shall relieve corporate or limited liability company officers from liability to the corporation or limited liability company or from any other liability that they may have incurred from any violation of their actual authority. (e) Any corporation or limited liability company may convey an interest in real property which is transferable by instrument which is duly executed by either an officer, manager, member, or agent of said corporation or limited liability company and has attached thereto a signed and attested resolution of the board of directors of said corporation or the managers or members of the limited liability company authorizing the said officer, manager, member, or agent to execute, sign, seal, and attest deeds, conveyances, or other instruments. This section shall be deemed to have been complied with if an attested resolution is recorded separately in the office of the register of deeds in the county where the land lies, which said resolution shall be applicable to all deeds executed subsequently thereto and pursuant to its authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not require a signed and attested resolution of the board of directors of the corporation or the managers or members of the limited liability company to be attached to an instrument or separately recorded in the case of an instrument duly executed by the corporation's or limited liability company's chairman, president, chief executive officer, a vice-president, assistant vice-president, treasurer, chief financial officer, chief operations officer, general counsel, deputy or assistant general counsel, manager, member, director, or other fiduciary duly authorized by the applicable business entity's statutes or governing documents. All deeds, conveyances, or other instruments which have been heretofore or shall be hereafter so executed shall, if otherwise sufficient, be valid and shall have the effect to pass the title to the real or personal property described therein. (1991, c. 647, s. 2; 1999-221, s. 4; 2018-80, s. 2.2; 2020-50, s. 3(a); 2020-69, s. 6(a).)

G.S. 47-19 Unregistered deeds prior to January, 1920, registered on affidavit.

§ 47-19. Unregistered deeds prior to January, 1920, registered on affidavit. Any person holding any unregistered deed or claiming title thereunder, executed prior to the first day of January, 1920, may have the same registered without proof of the execution thereof by making an affidavit, before the officer having jurisdiction to take probate of such deed, that the grantor, bargainor or maker of such deed, and the witnesses thereto, are dead or cannot be found, that he cannot make proof of their handwriting, and that affiant believes such deed to be a bona fide deed and executed by the grantor therein named. Said affidavit shall be written upon or attached to such deed, and the same, together with such deed, shall be entitled to registration in the same manner and with the same effect as if proved in the manner prescribed by law for other deeds. (1885, c. 147, s. 2; 1905, c. 277; Rev., s. 981; 1913, c. 116; 1915, cc. 13, 90; C.S., s. 3310; Ex. Sess. 1924, c. 56; 1951, c. 771.)

G.S. 47-20 Deeds of trust, mortgages, conditional sales contracts, assignments of leases and rents; effect of registration.

§ 47-20. Deeds of trust, mortgages, conditional sales contracts, assignments of leases and rents; effect of registration. (a) No deed of trust or mortgage of real or personal property, or of a leasehold interest or other chattel real, or conditional sales contract of personal property in which the title is retained by the vendor, shall be valid to pass any property as against lien creditors or purchasers for a valuable consideration from the grantor, mortgagor or conditional sales vendee, but from the time of registration thereof as provided in this Article; provided however that any transaction subject to the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (Chapter 25 of the General Statutes) is controlled by the provisions of that act and not by this section. Unless otherwise stated either on the registered instrument or on a separate registered instrument duly executed by the party whose priority interest is adversely affected, (i) instruments registered in the office of the register of deeds shall have priority based on the order of registration as determined by the time of registration, and (ii) if instruments are registered simultaneously, then the instruments shall be presumed to have priority as determined by: (1) The earliest document number set forth on the registered instrument. (2) The sequential book and page number set forth on the registered instrument if no document number is set forth on the registered instrument. The presumption created by this subsection is rebuttable. (b) For purposes of this section and G.S. 47-20.1, the following definitions apply: (1) "Rents, issues, or profits" means all amounts payable by or on behalf of any lessee, tenant, or other person having a possessory interest in real estate on account of or pursuant to any written or oral lease or other instrument evidencing a possessory interest in real property or pursuant to any form of tenancy implied by law, and all amounts payable by or on behalf of any licensee or permittee or other person occupying or using real property under license or permission from the owner or person entitled to possession. The term shall not include farm products as defined in G.S. 25-9-102(34), timber, the proceeds from the sale of farm products or timber, or the proceeds from the recovery or severance of any mineral deposits located on or under real property. (2) "Assignment of leases, rents, issues, or profits" means every document assigning, transferring, pledging, mortgaging, or conveying an interest in leases, licenses to real property, and rents, issues, or profits arising from real property, whether set forth in a separate instrument or contained in a mortgage, deed of trust, conditional sales contract, or other deed or instrument of conveyance. (3) "Collateral assignment" means any assignment of leases, rents, issues, or profits made and delivered in connection with the grant of any mortgage, or the execution of any conditional sales contract or deed of trust or in connection with any extension of credit made against the security of any interest in real property, where the assignor retains the right to collect or to apply such lease revenues, rents, issues, or profits after assignment and prior to default. (c) The recording of a written document in accordance with G.S. 47-20.1 containing an assignment of leases, rents, issues, or profits arising from real property shall be valid and enforceable from the time of recording to pass the interest granted, pledged, assigned, or transferred as against the assignor, and shall be perfected from the time of recording against subsequent assignees, lien creditors, and purchasers for a valuable consideration from the assignor. (d) Where an assignment of leases, rents, issues, or profits is a collateral assignment, after a default under the mortgage, deed of trust, conditional sales contract, or evidence of indebtedness which such assignment secures, the assignee shall thereafter be entitled, but not required, to collect and receive any accrued and unpaid or subsequently accruing lease revenues, rents, issues, or profits subject to the assignment, without need for the appointment of a receiver, any act to take possession of the property, or any further demand on the assignor. Unless otherwise agreed, after default the assignee shall be entitled to notify the tenant or other obligor to make payment to him and shall also be entitled to take control of any proceeds to which he may be entitled. The assignee must proceed in a commercially reasonable manner and may deduct his reasonable expenses of realization from the collections. (e) This section shall not exclude other methods of creating, perfecting, collecting, sequestering, or enforcing a security interest in rents, issues, or profits provided by the law of this State. (1829, c. 20; R.C., c. 37, s. 22; Code, s. 1254; Rev., s. 982; 1909, c. 874, s. 1; C.S., s. 3311; 1953, c. 1190, s. 1; 1959, c. 1026, s. 2; 1965, c. 700, s. 8; 1967, c. 562, s. 5; 1991, c. 234, s. 1; 2000-169, s. 35; 2003-219, s. 3; 2005-212, s. 3.)

G.S. 47-20.1 Place of registration; real property.

§ 47-20.1. Place of registration; real property. To be validly registered pursuant to G.S. 47-20, a deed of trust or mortgage of real property must be registered in the county where the land lies, or if the land is located in more than one county, then the deed of trust or mortgage must be registered in each county where any portion of the land lies in order to be effective as to the land in that county. (1953, c. 1190, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-20.2 Place of registration; personal property.

§ 47-20.2. Place of registration; personal property. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Mortgage" includes a deed of trust and a conditional sales contract; unless subject to the filing requirements of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (Chapter 25) and duly filed pursuant thereto; (2) "Mortgagor" includes a grantor in a deed of trust and a conditional sales vendee. (b) To be validly registered pursuant to G.S. 47-20, a mortgage of personal property must be registered as follows: (1) If the mortgagor is an individual: a. Who resides in this State, the mortgage must be registered in the county where the mortgagor resides when the mortgage is executed. b. Who resides outside this State, the mortgage must be registered in each county in this State where any of the tangible mortgaged property is located at the time the mortgage is executed, in order to be effective as to such property; and if any of the mortgaged property consists of a chose in action which arises out of the business transacted at a place of business operated by the mortgagor in this State, then the mortgage must be registered in the county where such place of business is located. (2) If the mortgagor is a partnership, either limited or unlimited: a. Which has a principal place of business in this State, the mortgage must be registered in the county where such place of business is located at the time the mortgage is executed. b. Which does not have a principal place of business in this State but has any place of business in this State, the mortgage must be registered in every county in this State where any such place of business is located at the time the mortgage is executed. Where such mortgage is registered in one or more of such counties but is not registered in every county required under this subsection, it shall, nevertheless, be effective as to the property in every county in which it is registered. c. Which has no place of business in the State, the mortgage must be registered in every county in this State where a partner resides at the time the mortgage is executed. Where such mortgage is registered in one or more of such counties but is not registered in every county required under this subsection, it shall, nevertheless, be effective as to the property in every county in which it is registered. d. Which has no place of business in this State, and no partner residing in this State, the mortgage must be registered in each county in this State where any of the mortgaged property is located when the mortgage is executed, in order to be effective as to the property in such county. (3) If the mortgagor is a domestic corporation: a. Which has a registered office in this State, the mortgage must be registered in the county where such registered office is located when the mortgage is executed. b. Which having been formed prior to July 1, 1957, has no such registered office but does have a principal office in this State as shown by its certificate of incorporation, or amendment thereto, or legislative charter, the mortgage must be registered in the county where the principal office is said to be located by such certificate of incorporation, or amendment thereto, or legislative charter when the mortgage is executed. (4) If the mortgagor is a foreign corporation: a. Which has a registered office in this State, the mortgage must be registered in the county where such registered office is located when the mortgage is executed. b. Which, having been domesticated prior to July 1, 1957, has no such registered office in this State, but does have a principal office in this State, the mortgage must be registered in the county where the principal office is said to be located by the statement filed with the Secretary of State in its application for permission to do business in this State or other document filed with the Secretary of State showing the location of such principal office in this State when the mortgage is executed. c. Which has not been domesticated in this State, the mortgage must be registered in the same county or counties as a mortgage executed by a nonresident individual. (5) If the personal property concerned is a vehicle required to be registered under the motor vehicle laws of the State of North Carolina, then the provisions of this section shall not apply but the security interest arising from the deed of trust, mortgage, conditional sales contract, or lease intended as security of such vehicle may be perfected by recordation in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 20-58 through 20-58.10. (1953, c. 1190, s. 2; 1957, c. 979, ss. 1, 2; 1961, c. 835, s. 12; 1965, c. 700, s. 8.)

G.S. 47-20.3 Place of registration; instruments covering both personal property and real property.

§ 47-20.3. Place of registration; instruments covering both personal property and real property. To be validly registered pursuant to G.S. 47-20, a mortgage, deed of trust or conditional sales contract, or any combination of these, of both personal property and real property must be registered pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 47-20.1 for the real property covered by the instrument and pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 47-20.2 for the personal property covered by the instrument, and in each case the registration must be indexed in the records designated for the particular type of property involved. (1953, c. 1190, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-20.4 Place of registration; chattel real.

§ 47-20.4. Place of registration; chattel real. To be validly registered pursuant to G.S. 47-20, a deed of trust or mortgage of a leasehold interest or other chattel real must be registered in the county where the land involved lies, or if the land involved is located in more than one county, then the deed of trust or mortgage must be registered in each county where any portion of the land involved lies in order to be effective as to the land in that county. (1959, c. 1026, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-20.5 Real property; effectiveness of after-acquired property clause.

§ 47-20.5. Real property; effectiveness of after-acquired property clause. (a) As used in this section, "after-acquired property clause" means any provision or provisions in an instrument which create a security interest in real property acquired by the grantor of the instrument subsequent to its execution. (b) As used in this section, "after-acquired property," and "property subsequently acquired" mean any real property which the grantor of a security instrument containing an after-acquired property clause acquires subsequent to the execution of such instrument, and in which the terms of the after-acquired property clause would create a security interest. (c) An after-acquired property clause is effective to pass after-acquired property as between the parties to the instrument containing such clause, but shall not be effective to pass title to after-acquired property as against lien creditors or purchasers for a valuable consideration from the grantor of the instrument unless and until such instrument has been registered or reregistered at or subsequent to the time such after-acquired property is acquired by such grantor and the deed to the grantor of the after-acquired property is registered. (d) In lieu of reregistering the instrument containing the after-acquired property clause as specified in subsection (c), such instrument may be made effective to pass title to after-acquired property as against lien creditors and purchasers for a valuable consideration from the grantor of the instrument by registering a notice of extension as specified in subsection (e) at or subsequent to the time of acquisition of the after-acquired property by the grantor. (e) The notice of extension shall (1) Show that effective registration of the after-acquired property clause is extended, (2) Include the names of the parties to the instrument containing the after-acquired property clause, (3) Refer to the book and page where the instrument containing the after-acquired property clause is registered, and (4) Be signed by the grantee or the person secured by the instrument containing the after-acquired property clause or his successor in interest. (f) The register of deeds shall index the notice of extension in the same manner as the instrument containing the after-acquired property clause. (g) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, no instrument which has been heretofore executed or registered and which contains an after-acquired property clause shall be effective to pass title to after-acquired property as against lien creditors or purchasers for a valuable consideration from the grantor of such instrument unless and until such instrument or a notice of extension thereof has been registered or reregistered as herein provided. (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section with respect to registration, reregistration and registration of notice of extension, an after-acquired property clause in an instrument which creates a security interest made by a public utility as defined in G.S. 62-3(23) or a natural gas company as defined in section 2(6) of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C.A. 717a(6), or by an electric or telephone membership corporation incorporated or domesticated in North Carolina shall be effective to pass after-acquired property as against lien creditors or purchasers for a valuable consideration from the grantor of the instrument from the time of original registration of such instrument. (1967, c. 861, s. 1; 1969, c. 813, ss. 1-3; 1997-386, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-20.6 Affidavit for permanent attachment of titled manufactured home to real property.

§ 47-20.6. Affidavit for permanent attachment of titled manufactured home to real property. (a) If the owner of real property or the owner of the manufactured home who has entered into a lease with a primary term of at least 20 years for the real property on which the manufactured home is affixed has surrendered the title to a manufactured home that is placed on the real property and the title has been cancelled by the Division of Motor Vehicles under G.S. 20-109.2, the owner, or the secured party having the first security interest in the manufactured home at time of surrender, shall record the affidavit described in G.S. 20-109.2 with the office of the register of deeds of the county where the real property is located. Upon recordation, the affidavit shall be indexed on the grantor index in the name of the owner of the manufactured home and on the grantee index in the name of the secured party or lienholder, if any. (b) After the affidavit is recorded, the manufactured home becomes an improvement to real property. Any lien on the manufactured home shall be perfected and given priority in the manner provided for a lien on real property. (c) Following recordation of the affidavit, all existing liens on the real property are considered to include the manufactured home. Thereafter, no conveyance of any interest, lien, or encumbrance shall attach to the manufactured home, unless the interest, lien, or encumbrance is applicable to the real property on which the home is located and is recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the real property is located in accordance with the applicable sections of this Chapter. (d) The provisions of this section control over the provisions of G.S. 25-9-334 relating to the priority of a security interest in fixtures, as applied to manufactured homes. (2001-506, s. 3; 2003-400, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-20.7 Declaration of intent to affix manufactured home; transfer of real property with manufactured home attached.

§ 47-20.7. Declaration of intent to affix manufactured home; transfer of real property with manufactured home attached. (a) A person who owns real property on which a manufactured home has been or will be placed or the owner of a manufactured home who has entered into a lease with a primary term of at least 20 years for the real property on which the manufactured home has been or will be placed, as defined in G.S. 105-273(13), and either where the manufactured home has never been titled by the Division of Motor Vehicles or where the title to the manufactured home has been surrendered and cancelled by the Division prior to January 1, 2002, may record in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the real property is located a declaration of intent to affix the manufactured home to the property and may convey or encumber the real property, including the manufactured home, by a deed, deed of trust, or other instrument recorded in the office of the register of deeds. (b) The declaration of intent, deed, deed of trust, or other instrument shall contain a description of the manufactured home, including the name of the manufacturer, the model name, if applicable, the serial number, and a statement of the owner's intention that the manufactured home be treated as property. (c) On or after the filing of the instrument with the office of the register of deeds pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the manufactured home placed, or to be placed, on the property becomes an improvement to real property. Any lien on the manufactured home shall be perfected and have priority in the manner provided for a lien on real property. (d) The provisions of this section control over the provisions of G.S. 25-9-334 relating to the priority of a security interest in fixtures, as applied to manufactured homes. (2001-506, s. 3; 2003-400, s. 3.)

G.S. 47-21 Blank or master forms of mortgages, etc.; embodiment by reference in instruments later filed.

§ 47-21. Blank or master forms of mortgages, etc.; embodiment by reference in instruments later filed. It shall be lawful for any person, firm or corporation to have a blank or master form of mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument conveying an interest in, or creating a lien on, real and/or personal property, filed, indexed and recorded in the office of the register of deeds. When any such blank or master form is filed, the register of deeds shall record it and shall index it in the manner now provided by law for the indexing of instruments recorded in the office of the register of deeds, except that the name of the person, firm or corporation whose name appears on such blank or master form shall be inserted in the indices as grantor and also as grantee. The fee for filing, recording and indexing such blank or master form shall be that for recording instruments in general, as provided in G.S. 161-10(a)(1). When any deed, mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument conveying an interest in, or creating a lien on, real and/or personal property, refers to the provisions, terms, covenants, conditions, obligations, or powers set forth in any such blank or master form recorded as herein authorized, and states the office of recordation of such blank or master form, book and page where same is recorded such reference shall be equivalent to setting forth in extenso in such deed, mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument conveying an interest in, or creating a lien on, real and/or personal property, the provisions, terms, covenants, conditions, obligations and powers set forth in such blank or master form. Provided this section shall not apply to Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bladen, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Cleveland, Columbus, Dare, Gates, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Iredell, Jackson, Martin, Moore, Perquimans, Sampson, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Vance, Washington and Watauga Counties. (1935, c. 153; 1971, c. 156; 2001-390, s. 4.)

G.S. 47-22 Counties may provide for photographic or photostatic registration.

§ 47-22. Counties may provide for photographic or photostatic registration. The board of county commissioners of any county is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for photographic or photostatic recording of all instruments filed in the office of the register of deeds and in other offices of such county where said board may deem such recording feasible. The board of county commissioners may also provide for filing such copies of said instruments in loose-leaf binders. (1941, c. 286; 1971, c. 1185, s. 12.)

G.S. 47-23 Repealed by Session Laws 1953, c. 1190, s. 3.

G.S. 47-24 Conditional sales or leases of railroad property.

§ 47-24. Conditional sales or leases of railroad property. When any railroad equipment and rolling stock is sold, leased or loaned on the condition that the title to the same, notwithstanding the possession and use of the same by the vendee, lessee, or bailee, shall remain in the vendor, lessor or bailor until the terms of the contract, as to the payment of the installments, amounts or rentals payable, or the performance of other obligations thereunder, shall have been fully complied with, such contract shall be invalid as to any subsequent judgment creditor, or any subsequent purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice, unless - (1) The same is evidenced by writing duly acknowledged before some person authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds. (2) Such writing is registered as mortgages are registered, in the office of the register of deeds in at least one county in which such vendee, lessee or bailee does business. (3) Each locomotive or car so sold, leased or loaned has the name of the vendor, lessor, or bailor, or the assignee of such vendor, lessor or bailor plainly marked upon both sides thereof, followed by the word owner, lessor, bailor or assignee as the case may be. This section shall not apply to or invalidate any contract made before the twelfth day of March, 1883. (1883, c. 416; Code, s. 2006; Rev., s. 984; 1907, c. 150, s. 1; C.S., s. 3313.)

G.S. 47-25 Marriage settlements.

§ 47-25. Marriage settlements. All marriage settlements and other marriage contracts, whereby any money or other estate is secured to the wife or husband, shall be proved or acknowledged and registered in the same manner as deeds for lands, and shall be valid against creditors and purchasers for value only from registration. (1785, c. 238; R.C., c. 37, ss. 24, 25; 1871-2, c. 193, s. 12; Code, ss. 1269, 1270, 1281; 1885, c. 147; Rev., s. 985; C.S., s. 3314.)

G.S. 47-26 Deeds of gift.

§ 47-26. Deeds of gift. All deeds of gift of any estate of any nature shall within two years after the making thereof be proved in due form and registered, or otherwise shall be void, and shall be good against creditors and purchasers for value only from the time of registration. (1789, c. 315, s. 2; R.C., c. 37, s. 18; Code, s. 1252; 1885, c. 147; Rev., s. 986; C.S., s. 3315.)

G.S. 47-27 Deeds of easements.

§ 47-27. Deeds of easements. All persons, firms, or corporations now owning or hereafter acquiring any deed or agreement for rights-of-way and easements of any character whatsoever shall record such deeds and agreements in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the land affected is situated. Where such deeds and agreements may have been acquired, but no use has been made thereof, the person, firm, or corporation holding such instrument, or any assignment thereof, shall not be required to record them until within 90 days after the beginning of the use of the easements granted thereby. If after 90 days from the beginning of the easement granted by such deeds and agreements the person, firm, or corporation holding such deeds or agreements has not recorded the same in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the land affected is situated, then the grantor in the said deed or agreement may, after 10 days' notice in writing served and returned by the sheriff or other officer of the county upon the said person, firm, or corporation holding such lease or agreement, file a copy of the said lease or agreement for registration in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the original should have been recorded, but such copy of the lease or agreement shall have attached thereto the written notice above referred to, showing the service and return of the sheriff or other officer. The registration of such copy shall have the same force and effect as the original would have had if recorded: Provided, said copy shall be duly probated before being registered. Nothing in this section shall require the registration of the following classes of instruments or conveyances, to wit: (1) It shall not apply to any deed or instrument executed prior to January 1, 1910. (2) It shall not apply to any deed or instrument so defectively executed or witnessed that it cannot by law be admitted to probate or registration, provided that such deed or instrument was executed prior to the ratification of this section. (3) It shall not apply to decrees of a competent court awarding condemnation or confirming reports of commissioners, when such decrees are on record in such courts. (4) It shall not apply to local telephone companies, operating exclusively within the State, or to agreements about alleyways. The failure of electric companies or power companies operating exclusively within this State or electric membership corporations, organized pursuant to Chapter 291 of the Public Laws of 1935 [G.S. 117-6 through 117-27], to record any deeds or agreements for rights-of-way acquired subsequent to 1935, shall not constitute any violation of any criminal law of the State of North Carolina. No deed, agreement for right-of-way, or easement of any character shall be valid as against any creditor or purchaser for a valuable consideration but from the registration thereof within the county where the land affected thereby lies. From and after July 1, 1959, the provisions of this section shall apply to require the Department of Transportation to record as herein provided any deeds of easement, or any other agreements granting or conveying an interest in land which are executed on or after July 1, 1959, in the same manner and to the same extent that individuals, firms or corporations are required to record such easements. (1917, c. 148; 1919, c. 107; C.S., s. 3316; 1943, c. 750; 1959, c. 1244; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1977, c. 464, s. 34.)

G.S. 47-28 Powers of attorney.

§ 47-28. Powers of attorney. (a) Recording required for powers of attorney affecting real property: (1) Before any transfer of real property executed by an agent empowered by a power of attorney governed by Chapter 32C of the General Statutes, the power of attorney or a certified copy of the power of attorney shall be registered in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the principal is domiciled or where the real property lies. If the principal is not a resident of North Carolina, the power of attorney or a certified copy of the power of attorney may be recorded in any county in the State wherein the principal owns real property or has a significant business reason for registering in the county. (2) If the real property lies in more than one county or in a county other than where the principal is domiciled, the power of attorney or a certified copy of the power of attorney shall be registered in the office of the register of deeds in one of the counties, and the instrument of transfer shall refer to the recordation specifically by reference to the book, page, and county where recorded. (3) Any instrument subject to the provisions of G.S. 47-17.2, 47-18, or 47-20 and signed by an agent and recorded in a county other than the county where a power of attorney is recorded in this State shall include the recording information, including book, page, and county for the power of attorney. (4) The failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall not affect the sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the instrument but shall constitute an infraction. (b) If the instrument of conveyance is recorded prior to the registration of the power of attorney or a certified copy of the power of attorney pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the power of attorney or a certified copy of the power of attorney may be registered in the office of the register of deeds as provided in subsection (a) of this section thereafter provided that the agent was empowered at the time of the original conveyance. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, no conveyance shall be rendered invalid by the recordation of the power of attorney or a certified copy of the power of attorney after the instrument of conveyance, and the registration shall relate back to the date and time of registration of the instrument of conveyance. (c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall apply to all real property transfers utilizing an authority under any power of attorney whether made on or after April 1, 2013, and the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all real property transfers utilizing an authority under any power of attorney whether made before, on, or after April 1, 2013. (Code, s. 1249; 1899, c. 235, s. 15; Rev., s. 987; C.S., s. 3317; 2013-204, s. 1.15; 2017-153, s. 2.2.)

G.S. 47-29 Recording of bankruptcy records.

§ 47-29. Recording of bankruptcy records. A copy of the petition with the schedules omitted beginning a proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy Act, or of the decree of adjudication in such proceeding, or of the order approving the bond of the trustee appointed in such proceeding, shall be recorded in the office of any register of deeds in North Carolina, and it shall be the duty of the register of deeds, on request, to record the same. The register of deeds shall be entitled to the same fees for such registration as he is now entitled to for recording conveyances. (1939, c. 254.)

G.S. 47-29.1 Recordation of environmental notices.

§ 47-29.1. Recordation of environmental notices. (a) A permit for the disposal of waste on land shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 130A-301. (a1) The disposal of land clearing and inert debris in a landfill with a disposal area of 1/2 acre or less pursuant to G.S. 130A-301.1 shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 130A-301.1(c). (a2) A Notice of Open Dump shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 130A-301(f). (a3) Expired pursuant to Session Laws 1995, c. 502, s. 4, as amended by Session Laws 2001-357, s. 2, effective September 30, 2003. (a4) The disposal of on-site demolition debris from the decommissioning of manufacturing buildings, including electric generating stations, shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 130A-301.3. (b) An inactive hazardous substance or waste disposal site shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 130A-310.8. (c) A Notice of Brownfields Property shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 130A-310.35. (d) A Notice of Oil or Hazardous Substance Discharge Site shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 143-215.85A. (e) A Notice of Dry-Cleaning Solvent Remediation shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 143-215.104M. (f) A Notice of Contaminated Site shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 143B-279.10. (g) A Notice of Residual Petroleum shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 143B-279.11. (h) A land-use restriction that provides for the maintenance of stormwater best management practices or site consistency with approved stormwater project plans shall be recorded as provided in G.S. 143-214.7(c1). (1995, c. 502, s. 2.1; 1997-330, s. 1; 2001-357, s. 2; 2001-384, s. 10; 2006-246, s. 16(a); 2013-55, s. 3; 2013-410, s. 16.3.)

G.S. 47-30 Plats and subdivisions; mapping requirements.

§ 47-30. Plats and subdivisions; mapping requirements. (a) Size Requirements. - All land plats presented to the register of deeds for recording in the registry of a county in North Carolina after September 30, 1991, having an outside marginal size of either 18 inches by 24 inches, 21 inches by 30 inches, or 24 inches by 36 inches, and, for landscape format, having a minimum one and one-half inch border on the left side or, for portrait format, one and one-half inch border on the top side and a minimum one-half inch border on the other sides shall be deemed to meet the size requirements for recording under this section. Where size of land areas, or suitable scale to assure legibility require, plats may be placed on two or more sheets with appropriate match lines. Counties may specify either: (1) Only 18 inches by 24 inches; (2) A combination of 18 inches by 24 inches and 21 inches by 30 inches; (3) A combination of 18 inches by 24 inches and 24 inches by 36 inches; or (4) A combination of all three sizes. Provided, that all registers of deeds where specific sizes other than the combination of all three sizes have been specified, shall be required to submit said size specifications to the North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds for inclusion on a master list of all such counties. The list shall be available in each register of deeds office by October 1, 1991. For purposes of this section, the terms "plat" and "map" are synonymous. (b) Plats to Be Reproducible. - Each plat presented for recording shall be a reproducible plat, either original ink on polyester film (mylar), or a reproduced drawing, transparent and archival (as defined by the American National Standards Institute), and submitted in this form. The recorded plat must be such that the public may obtain legible copies. A direct or photographic copy of each recorded plat shall be placed in the plat book or plat file maintained for that purpose and properly indexed for use. In those counties in which the register has made a security copy of the plat from which legible copies can be made, the original plat may be submitted in the form of black line on white paper instead of transparent and archival and may be returned to the person indicated on the plat. (c) Information Contained in Title of Plat. - The title of each plat shall contain the following information: (1) The property designation. (2) The name of the owner; provided, however, that the name of owner shall be shown for indexing purposes only and is not to be construed as title certification. (3) The location, to include county and State, and the township or city, if applicable. (4) The date or dates the survey was made. (5) The scale or scale ratio in words or figures and bar graph. (6) The name and address of surveyor preparing the plat, including the firm name and firm license number, if applicable. (7) The dates and descriptions of revisions made after original signing. The information required pursuant to this subsection shall be listed prominently on the plat. Information listed in the notes contained on the plat does not satisfy the requirements of this subsection. (d) Certificate; Form. - There shall appear on each plat a certificate by the person under whose supervision the survey or plat was made, stating the reference source for the boundary information for the surveyed property shown on the plat, including recorded deed and plat references shown thereon. The ratio of precision or positional accuracy before any adjustments must be shown. Any lines on the plat that were not actually surveyed must be clearly indicated and a statement included revealing the source of information. Where a plat consists of more than one sheet, only one sheet must contain the certification and all other sheets must be signed and sealed. Multiple sheet plats shall be identified as a map set. The certificate required above shall include (i) the source of information for the survey, (ii) data indicating the ratio of precision or positional accuracy of the survey before adjustments, and (iii) the seal and signature pursuant to Chapter 89C of the General Statutes, and shall be in substantially the following form: "I, ______, certify that this plat was drawn under my supervision from an actual survey made under my supervision (deed description recorded in Book ____, page ____, etc.) (other); that the boundaries not surveyed are clearly indicated as drawn from information found in Book ____, page ____; that the ratio of precision or positional accuracy as calculated is ____; that this plat was prepared in accordance with G.S. 47-30 as amended. Witness my original signature, license number and seal this ____ day of ____, A.D., ____. Seal or Stamp ___________________________ Professional Land Surveyor License Number" Nothing in this requirement shall prevent the recording of a map that was prepared in accordance with a previous version of G.S. 47-30 as amended, properly signed, and notarized under the statutes applicable at the time of the signing of the map. However, it shall be the responsibility of the person presenting the map to prove that the map was so prepared. The presence of the personal signature and seal of a professional land surveyor shall constitute a certification that the map conforms to the standards of practice for land surveying in this State as defined in the rules of the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. (e) Method of Computation. - An accurate method of computation shall be used to determine the acreage and either the ratio of precision or the positional accuracy shown on the plat. Area by estimation is not acceptable nor is area by planimeter, area by scale, or area copied from another source, except in the case of tracts containing inaccessible sections or areas. In such case the surveyor may make use of aerial photographs or other appropriate aids to determine the acreage of any inaccessible areas when the areas are bounded by natural and visible monuments. In such case the methods used must be stated on the plat and all accessible areas of the tract shall remain subject to all applicable standards of this section. (f) Plat to Contain Specific Information. - Every plat shall contain the following specific information: (1) An accurately positioned north arrow coordinated with any bearings shown on the plat. Indication shall be made as to whether the north index is true, magnetic, North Carolina grid ("NAD 83," "NAD 27," or other published horizontal datum), or is referenced to old deed or plat bearings. If the north index is magnetic or referenced to old deed or plat bearings, the date and the source (if known) the index was originally determined shall be clearly indicated. North Carolina grid reference shall include the horizontal datum and the realization reference. (2) The azimuth or course and distance of every property line surveyed shall be shown. Distances shall be in U.S. Survey feet or meters and decimals thereof. The number of decimal places shall be appropriate to the class of survey required. (3) All plat distances shall be by horizontal ground or horizontal grid measurements. All lines shown on the plat shall be correctly plotted to the scale shown. Enlargement of portions of a plat are acceptable in the interest of clarity, where shown as inserts. Where the North Carolina grid system is used the combined grid factor shall be shown on the face of the plat. If grid distances are used, it must be indicated on the plat. (4) Where a boundary is formed by a curved line, the following data must be given: actual survey data from the point of curvature to the point of tangency shall be shown as standard curve data, or as a traverse of bearings and distances around the curve. If standard curve data is used the bearing and distance of the long chord (from point of curvature to point of tangency) must be shown on the plat. (5) Where a subdivision of land is set out on the plat, all streets and lots shall be accurately plotted with dimension lines indicating widths and all other information pertinent to reestablishing all lines in the field. This shall include bearings and distances sufficient to form a continuous closure of the entire perimeter. (6) All corners which are marked by monument or natural object shall be so identified on all plats, and where practical all corners of adjacent owners along the boundary lines of the subject tract which are marked by monument or natural object shall be shown. (7) The names of adjacent landowners, or lot, block, parcel, subdivision name designations or other legal reference, where applicable, shall be shown where they could be determined by the surveyor. (8) All visible and apparent rights-of-way, watercourses, utilities, roadways, and other such improvements shall be accurately located where crossing or forming any boundary line of the property shown. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to modify the notification responsibility of persons engaged in excavation or demolition pursuant to G.S. 87-122. (9) Where the plat is the result of a survey, one or more corners shall be labeled with coordinates on the plat, shown as "X" (easting) and "Y" (northing) coordinates, traceable to a published geodetic datum or the North Carolina State Plane Coordinate System, or both. The plat should include, at a minimum, the referenced horizontal datum and realization (i.e., "NAD 83 (2011)") as well as the data or method used to establish those coordinates, or both. If the bearings shown on the map are not referenced to the same datum as the grid coordinates shown, then either (i) the coordinates of a second point shall be labeled and the two labeled points tied together by a single azimuth or course and distance or (ii) the plat shall include, in written and graphical form, the conversion from plat bearings to reference bearings. Control monuments within a previously recorded subdivision may be used in lieu of grid control. In the interest of consistency with previously recorded plats, existing bearing control may be used where practical. Where no horizontal control monument of any United States or State agency survey system, such as the North Carolina Geodetic Survey, is located within 2,000 feet of the subject property, ties to other appropriate natural monuments or landmarks may be used in lieu of grid coordinates. In all cases, the tie lines shall be sufficient to reproduce the subject lands from the control or reference points used. (10) A vicinity map (location map) and legend shall appear on the plat. (11) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this section, it is the duty of the surveyor, by a certificate on the face of the plat, to certify to one of the following: a. That the survey creates a subdivision of land within the area of a county or municipality that has an ordinance that regulates parcels of land. b. That the survey is located in a portion of a county or municipality that is unregulated as to an ordinance that regulates parcels of land. c. Any one of the following: 1. That the survey is of an existing parcel or parcels of land or one or more existing easements and does not create a new street or change an existing street. For the purposes of this subsection, an "existing parcel" or "existing easement" is an area of land described in a single, legal description or legally recorded subdivision that has been or may be legally conveyed to a new owner by deed in its existing configuration. 2. That the survey is of an existing feature, such as a building or other structure, or natural feature, such as a watercourse. 3. That the survey is a control survey. For the purposes of this subsection, a "control survey" is a survey that provides horizontal or vertical position data for support or control of other surveys or for mapping. A control survey, by itself, cannot be used to define or convey rights or ownership. 4. That the survey is of a proposed easement for a public utility as defined in G.S. 62-3. d. That the survey is of another category, such as the recombination of existing parcels, a court-ordered survey, or other exemption or exception to the definition of subdivision. e. That the information available to the surveyor is such that the surveyor is unable to make a determination to the best of the surveyor's professional ability as to provisions contained in (a) through (d) above. If the plat contains the certificate of a surveyor as stated in sub-subdivisions b. or c. of this subdivision, nothing shall prevent the recordation of the plat if all other provisions have been met. However, if the plat contains the certificate of a surveyor as stated in sub-subdivisions a., d., or e. of this subdivision, then the plat shall have, in addition to said surveyor's certificate, a certification of approval, or no approval required, as may be required by local ordinance from the appropriate government authority and the county review officer as provided in G.S. 47-30.2 before the plat is presented for recordation. The signing and sealing of the certification as required in subsection (d) of this section shall satisfy the certification requirement contained in this subsection. (g) Recording of Plat. - In certifying a plat for recording pursuant to G.S. 47-30.2, the Review Officer shall not be responsible for reviewing or certifying as to any of the following requirements of this section: (1) Subsection (b) of this section as to archival. (2) Repealed by Session Laws 1997-309, s. 2. (3) Subsection (e) of this section. (4) Subdivisions (1) through (10) of subsection (f) of this section. A plat, when certified pursuant to G.S. 47-30.2 and presented for recording, shall be recorded in the plat book or plat file and when so recorded shall be duly indexed. Reference in any instrument hereafter executed to the record of any plat herein authorized shall have the same effect as if the description of the lands as indicated on the record of the plat were set out in the instrument. (h) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the filing of any plat prepared by a professional land surveyor but not recorded prior to the death of the professional land surveyor. However, it is the responsibility of the person presenting the map to the Review Officer pursuant to G.S. 47-30.2 to prove that the plat was so prepared. For preservation these plats may be filed without signature, notary acknowledgement or probate, in a special plat file. (i) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to invalidate any instrument or the title thereby conveyed making reference to any recorded plat. (j) The provisions of this section shall not apply to boundary plats of State lines, county lines, areas annexed by municipalities, nor to plats of municipal boundaries, whether or not required by law to be recorded. (k) The provisions of this section shall apply to all counties in North Carolina. (l) This section does not apply to the registration of highway right-of-way plans provided for in G.S. 136-19.4 or G.S. 136-89.184. (m) Maps attached to deeds or other instruments and submitted for recording in that form must be no larger than 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches and comply with either this subsection or subsection (n) of this section. A map submitted for recording pursuant to this subsection shall conform to one the following standards: (1) An original map that meets the requirements of subsections (c) through (f) of this section and that bears the signature of a professional land surveyor and the surveyor's seal as approved by the State Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. (2) A copy of a previously recorded map that is certified by the custodian of the public record to be a true and accurate copy of the map. (n) A map that does not meet the requirements of subsection (m) of this section may be attached to a deed or other instrument submitted for recording in that form for illustrative purposes only if it meets both of the following requirements: (1) It is no larger than 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches. (2) It is conspicuously labelled, "THIS MAP MAY NOT BE A CERTIFIED SURVEY AND HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH RECORDING REQUIREMENTS FOR PLATS." (o) The requirements of this section regarding plat size, reproducible form, and evidence of required certifications shall be met with respect to a plat that is an "electronic document," as that term is defined in G.S. 47-16.2(3), if all of the following conditions have been met: (1) The register of deeds has authorized the submitter to electronically register the electronic document. (2) The plat is submitted by a United States federal or a state governmental unit or instrumentality or a trusted submitter. For purposes of this subsection, "a trusted submitter" means a person or entity that has entered into a memorandum of understanding regarding electronic recording with the register of deeds in the county in which the electronic document is to be submitted. (3) Evidence of required certifications appear on the digitized image of the document as it will appear on the public record. (4) With respect to a plat submitted by a trusted submitter, the digitized image of the document as it will appear on the public record contains the submitter's name in the following completed statement on the first page of the document image: "Submitted electronically by __________ (submitter's name) in compliance with North Carolina statutes governing recordable documents and the terms of the submitter agreement with the __________ (insert county name) County Register of Deeds. (5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the digitized image of the plat conforms to all other applicable laws and rules that prescribe recordation. (1911, c. 55, s. 2; C.S., s. 3318; 1923, c. 105; 1935, c. 219; 1941, c. 249; 1953, c. 47, s. 1; 1959, c. 1235, ss. 1, 3A, 3.1; 1961, cc. 7, 111, 164, 199, 252, 660, 687, 932, 1122; 1963, c. 71, ss. 1, 2; cc. 180, 236; c. 361, s. 1; c. 403; 1965, c. 139, s. 1; 1967, c. 228, s. 2; c. 394; 1971, c. 658; 1973, cc. 76, 848, 1171; c. 1262, s. 86; 1975, c. 192; c. 200, s. 1; 1977, c. 50, s. 1; c. 221, s. 1; c. 305, s. 2; c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 330, s. 1; 1981, c. 138, s. 1; c. 140, s. 1; c. 479; 1983, c. 473; 1987, c. 747, s. 20; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(6); 1991, c. 268, s. 3; 1993, c. 119, ss. 1, 2; 1997-309, s. 2; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 1998-228, ss. 11, 12; 1999-456, s. 59; 2000-140, s. 93.1(b); 2001-424, s. 12.2(b); 2008-225, s. 9; 2010-180, s. 1; 2011-246, s. 7; 2012-142, s. 12.4(f); 2017-27, s. 1; 2019-35, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-30.1 Plats and subdivisions; alternative requirements.

§ 47-30.1. Plats and subdivisions; alternative requirements. In a county to which the provisions of G.S. 47-30 do not apply, any person, firm or corporation owning land may have a plat thereof recorded in the office of the register of deeds if such land or any part thereof is situated in the county, upon proof upon oath by the surveyor making such plat or under whose supervision such plat was made that the same is in all respects correct according to the best of his knowledge and belief and was prepared from an actual survey by him made, or made under his supervision, giving the date of such survey, or if the surveyor making such plat is dead, or where land has been sold and conveyed according to an unrecorded plat, upon the oath of a duly licensed surveyor that said map is in all respects correct according to the best of his knowledge and belief and that the same was actually and fully checked and verified by him, giving the date on which the same was verified and checked. (1961, c. 534, s. 1; c. 985.)

G.S. 47-30.2 Review Officer.

§ 47-30.2. Review Officer. (a) The board of commissioners of each county shall, by resolution, designate by name one or more persons experienced in mapping or land records management as a Review Officer to review each map and plat required to be submitted for review before the map or plat is presented to the register of deeds for recording. Each person designated a Review Officer shall, if reasonably feasible, be certified as a property mapper pursuant to G.S. 147-54.4. A resolution designating a Review Officer shall be recorded in the county registry and indexed on the grantor index in the name of the Review Officer. (b) The Review Officer shall review expeditiously each map or plat required to be submitted to the Officer before the map or plat is presented to the register of deeds for recording. The Review Officer shall certify the map or plat if it complies with all statutory requirements for recording. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the register of deeds shall not accept for recording any map or plat required to be submitted to the Review Officer unless the map or plat has the certification of the Review Officer affixed to it. A certification shall be in substantially the following form: State of North Carolina County of I, ____________, Review Officer of __________ County, certify that the map or plat to which this certification is affixed meets all statutory requirements for recording. Review Officer Date (c) A map or plat must be presented to the Review Officer unless one or more of the following conditions are applicable: (1) The certificate required by G.S. 47-30(f)(11) shows that the map or plat is a survey within the meaning of G.S. 47-30(f)(11)b. or c. (2) The map or plat is exempt from the requirements of G.S. 47-30 pursuant to G.S. 47-30(j) or (l). (3) The map is an attachment that is being recorded pursuant to G.S. 47-30(n). (1997-309, s. 3; 1998-228, s. 13.)

G.S. 47-31 Certified copies may be registered; used as evidence.

§ 47-31. Certified copies may be registered; used as evidence. (a) A duly certified copy of any deed or writing required or allowed to be registered may be registered in any county. The register of deeds may rely on the record keeper's certification on a presented document that the document is a certified copy and is not required to further verify the proof or acknowledgement otherwise required by G.S. 47-14 or to determine whether the document has been changed or altered after it was certified. The registered or duly certified copy of any deed or writing that has been registered in the county where the land is situate may be given in evidence in any court of the State. (b) Instruments registered pursuant to this section prior to July 6, 1993 that were not further certified pursuant to G.S. 47-14 at the time of registration are hereby validated. (1858-9, c. 18, s. 2; Code, s. 1253; Rev., s. 988; C. S., s. 3319; 1993, c. 288, ss. 2, 3; 2008-194, s. 7(b).)

G.S. 47-32 Photographic copies of plats, etc.

§ 47-32. Photographic copies of plats, etc. After January 1, 1960, in all special proceedings in which a map shall be filed as a part of the papers, such map shall meet the specifications required for recording of maps in the office of the register of deeds, and the clerk of superior court may certify a copy thereof to the register of deeds of the county in which said lands lie for recording in the Map Book provided for that purpose; and the clerk of superior court may have a photographic copy of said map made on a sheet of the same size as the leaves in the book in which the special proceeding is recorded, and when made, may place said photographic copy in said book at the end of the report of the commissioner or other document referring to said map. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Camden, Clay, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Person, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Sampson, Scotland, Surry, Swain, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga and Yadkin. (1931, c. 171; 1959, c. 1235, ss. 2, 3A, 3.1; 1961, cc. 7, 111, 164, 252, 697, 932, 1122; 1963, c. 71, s. 3; c. 236; c. 361, s. 2; 1965, c. 139, s. 2; 1971, c. 1185, s. 13; 1977, c. 111; c. 221, s. 2; 1981, c. 138, s. 1; c. 140, s. 1; 1985, c. 32, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-32.1 Photostatic copies of plats, etc.; alternative provisions.

§ 47-32.1. Photostatic copies of plats, etc.; alternative provisions. In a county to which the provisions of G.S. 47-32 do not apply, the following alternative provisions shall govern photostatic copies of plats filed in special proceedings: In all special proceedings in which a plat, map or blueprint shall be filed as a part of the papers, the clerk of the superior court may have a photostatic copy of said plat, map or blueprint made on a sheet of the same size as the leaves in the book in which the special proceeding is recorded, and when made, shall place said photostatic copy in said book at the end of the report of the commissioners or other document referring to said plat, map or blueprint. (1961, c. 535, s. 1; 1971, c. 1185, s. 14.)

G.S. 47-32.2 Violation of § 47-30 or § 47-32 a misdemeanor.

§ 47-32.2. Violation of § 47-30 or § 47-32 a misdemeanor. Any person, firm or corporation willfully violating the provisions of G.S. 47-30 or G.S. 47-32 shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject only to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Camden, Clay, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Person, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Sampson, Scotland, Surry, Swain, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga and Yadkin. (1959, c. 1235, ss. 3, 3A, 3.1; 1961, cc. 7, 111, 164, 252; c. 535, s. 1; cc. 687, 932, 1122; 1963, c. 236; c. 361, s. 3; 1965, c. 139, s. 3; 1977, c. 110; c. 221, s. 3; 1981, c. 138, s. 1; c. 140, s. 1; 1985, c. 32, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 408; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

G.S. 47-33 Certified copies of deeds made by alien property custodian may be registered.

§ 47-33. Certified copies of deeds made by alien property custodian may be registered. Any copy of a deed made, or purporting to be made, by the United States alien property custodian duly certified pursuant to title twenty-eight, section six hundred sixty-one of United States Code by the department of justice of the United States, with its official seal impressed thereon, when the said certified copy reveals the fact that the execution of the original was acknowledged by the alien property custodian before a notary public of the District of Columbia, and that the official seal of the alien property custodian by recital was affixed or impressed on the original, and further reveals it to have been approved, as to form, by general counsel, and the copy also shows that the original was signed and approved by the acting chief, division of trusts, and was witnessed by two witnesses, shall, when presented to the register of deeds of any county wherein the land described therein purports to be situate, be recorded by the register of deeds of such county without other or further proof of the execution and/or delivery of the original thereof, and the same when so recorded shall be indexed and cross-indexed by the register of deeds as are deeds made by individuals upon the payment of the usual and lawful fees for the registration thereof. (1937, c. 5, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-34 Certified copies of deeds made by alien property custodian admissible in evidence.

§ 47-34. Certified copies of deeds made by alien property custodian admissible in evidence. The record of all such recorded copies of such instruments authorized in G.S. 47-33 shall be received in evidence in all the courts of this State and the courts of the United States in the trial of any cause pending therein, the same as though and with like effect as if the original thereof had been probated and recorded as required by the law of North Carolina, and the record in the office of register of deeds of such recorded copy of such an instrument shall be presumptive evidence that the original of said copy was executed and delivered to the vendee, or vendees therein named, and that the original thereof has been lost or unintentionally destroyed without registration, and in the absence of legal proof to the contrary said so registered copy shall be conclusive evidence that the United States alien property custodian conveyed the lands and premises described in said registered copy to the vendees therein named, as said copy reveals, and title to such land shall pass by such recorded instrument. (1937, c. 5, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-35 Register to fill in deeds on blank forms with lines.

§ 47-35. Register to fill in deeds on blank forms with lines. Registers of deeds shall, in registering deeds and other instruments, where printed skeletons or forms are used by the register, fill all spaces left blank in such skeletons or forms by drawing or stamping a line or lines in ink through such blank spaces. (1911, c. 6, s. 1; C.S., s. 3320.)

G.S. 47-36 Errors in registration corrected on petition to clerk.

§ 47-36. Errors in registration corrected on petition to clerk. Every person who discovers that there is an error in the registration of his grant, conveyance, bill of sale or other instrument of writing, may prefer a petition to the clerk of the superior court of the county in which said writing is registered, in the same manner as is directed for petitioners to correct errors in grants or patents, and if on hearing the same before said clerk it appears that errors have been committed, the clerk shall order the register of the county to correct such errors and make the record conformable to the original. The petitioner must notify his grantor and every person claiming title to or having lands adjoining those mentioned in the petition, 30 days previous to preferring the same. Any person dissatisfied with the judgment may appeal to the superior court as in other cases. (1790, c. 326, ss. 2, 3, 4; R.C., c. 37, s. 28; Code, s. 1266; Rev., s. 1008; C.S., s. 3321.)

G.S. 47-36.1 Notice of errors in recorded instruments of title.

§ 47-36.1. Notice of errors in recorded instruments of title. (a) Notwithstanding G.S. 47-14 and G.S. 47-17, notice of a nonmaterial typographical or other minor error in a deed or other instrument recorded with the register of deeds may be given by recording a corrective notice affidavit. For purposes of this section, an error that would affect the respective rights of any party to the instrument is not a nonmaterial typographical or minor error. If a corrective notice affidavit is conspicuously identified as a corrective notice or scrivener's affidavit in its title, the register of deeds shall index the name of the affiant, the names of the original parties in the instrument, the recording information of the instrument for which the corrective notice is being given, and the original parties as they are named in the affidavit. A copy of the previously recorded instrument to which the corrective notice affidavit applies may be attached to the corrective notice affidavit and need not be a certified copy. To the extent the correction is inconsistent with the originally recorded instrument, and only to that extent, notice of the corrective information as provided by the affiant in the corrective notice affidavit is deemed to have been given as of the time the corrective notice affidavit is registered. Nothing in this section invalidates or otherwise alters the legal effect of any instrument of correction authorized by statute in effect on the date the instrument was registered. (b) Nothing in this section requires that an affidavit be attached to an original or certified copy of a previously recorded instrument that is unchanged but rerecorded. Nothing in this section requires that an affidavit be attached to a previously recorded instrument with a copy of a previously recorded instrument that includes identified corrections or an original execution by a party or parties of the corrected instrument after the original recording, with proof or acknowledgment of their execution of the correction of the instrument. (c) If the corrective affidavit is solely made by a notary public in order to correct a notarial certificate made by that notary public that was attached to an instrument already recorded with the register of deeds, the notary public shall complete the corrective affidavit identifying the correction and may attach a new acknowledgment completed as of the date the original acknowledgment took place, which shall be deemed attached to the original recording, and the instrument's priority shall remain the date and time originally recorded. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to corrective affidavits filed prior to, on, or after April 1, 2013. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 842, s. 1; 1987, c. 360, s. 1; 2008-194, s. 7(c); 2013-204, s. 1.16; 2017-110, s. 1; 2021-91, s. 12.)

G.S. 47-36.2 Cure of obvious description errors in recorded instruments.

§ 47-36.2. Cure of obvious description errors in recorded instruments. (a) The following definitions apply to this section, unless the context requires a different meaning: (1) Authorized attorney. - An individual licensed to practice law under Chapter 84 of the General Statutes, who is one of the following: a. The attorney who drafted the instrument containing the obvious description error to be corrected. b. Any attorney for a party to the transaction for which the instrument containing the obvious description error was recorded, including, for example, but not limited to, the attorney for (i) the grantor or grantee in a deed; (ii) the mortgagor or mortgagee in a mortgage; (iii) the grantor or trustor in a deed of trust; (iv) the trustee or duly appointed substitute trustee in a deed of trust; (v) the beneficiary of record in a deed of trust or the assignee of record of the beneficiary's interest; (vi) the assignor or assignee in an assignment of leases, rents, or profits; or (vii) any party to an instrument affecting title to real property. c. An attorney retained or authorized by either a title insurance company or title insurance agent that either (i) has issued a policy of title insurance covering the subject property in the transaction in which the error occurred or in any subsequent transaction or (ii) proposes to issue a policy of title insurance in reliance on a curative affidavit recorded or to be recorded in accordance with the provisions of this section. (2) Curative affidavit. - An affidavit executed by an authorized attorney to correct an obvious description error. (3) Notice of intent. - A notice issued by an authorized attorney of the authorized attorney's intent to sign and record a curative affidavit. (4) Obvious description error. - An error in the legal description of real property that is contained in an instrument affecting title to real property recorded in the office of the register of deeds in the county in which the real property or any part or parts thereof is located that is evidenced by any of the following: a. One or more of the following, as stated in the instrument, are inconsistent in that one or more identify the property incorrectly, and the error is made apparent by reference to other information contained in the instrument, contained in an attachment to the instrument, or contained in another instrument in the chain of title for the subject parcel, including a recorded plat: 1. The legal description of the property. 2. The physical address of the property. 3. The tax map identification number of the property. 4. A plat reference. 5. A prior deed reference. b. The legal description of the real property in the instrument contains one or more errors transcribing courses and distances, including, for example, the omission of one or more lines of courses and distances, the omission of angles and compass directions, or the reversal of courses. c. The instrument contains an error in a lot or unit number or designation, and the lot or unit described is not owned by the grantor, trustor, mortgagor, or assignor at the time the instrument is executed. d. The instrument omits an exhibit, attachment, or other descriptive information intended to supply the legal description of the subject property, and the correct legal description may be determined by reference to other information contained in the instrument, including, but not limited to, one or more of the items described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision. The term "obvious description error" does not include and shall not apply to (i) missing or improper signatures or acknowledgements; (ii) any designation of the type of ownership interest or right of survivorship; or (iii) any error in the legal description that operates to convey any interest in real property that the grantor, trustor, mortgagor, or assignor owned at the time of conveyance but did not intend to convey. (5) Recorded plat. - A plat that has been prepared by a professional land surveyor licensed pursuant to Chapter 89C of the General Statutes and has been recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the property is situated. (6) Recording data. - The book and page number or document number that indicates where an instrument is recorded in the office of the register of deeds. (7) Title insurance agent. - A person or entity licensed by the Commissioner of Insurance and contractually authorized by one or more title insurance companies to issue commitments and policies on behalf of said title insurance company and that has issued or proposes to issue a policy of title insurance covering real property described in a recorded instrument needing correction. (8) Title insurance company. - A company certified pursuant to Article 26 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes that has issued or proposes to issue a policy of title insurance covering real property described in a recorded instrument needing correction. (b) Notwithstanding G.S. 47-14 and G.S. 47-17, obvious description errors in a recorded instrument affecting title to real property may be cured by recording a curative affidavit with the register of deeds in every county where the real property is situated. (c) Prior to recording a curative affidavit as described in subsection (b) of this section, the authorized attorney seeking to record the affidavit shall serve a notice of intent and a copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit on the persons identified in this subsection. Service of the notice of intent and copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit shall be made in any manner prescribed for the service of a summons in accordance with Rule 4(j) or Rule 4(j5) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. The persons entitled to service of the notice of intent and a copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit pursuant to this subsection are as follows: (1) All parties to the instrument that is the subject of the curative affidavit. In the case of a deed of trust, the parties to the instrument shall include the grantor or trustor named in the deed of trust, the beneficiary of record, and any assignee of the beneficiary known to the party filing the curative affidavit or its authorized attorney, but need not include the trustee named in the deed of trust or any substitute trustee. (2) Any current record mortgagee, record beneficiary, record assignee, or record secured party in any mortgage, deed of trust, assignment of leases, rents or profits, UCC fixture filing, or other recorded instrument of title that may be adversely affected by the recording of the curative affidavit. For the purposes of this subdivision, "instruments of title" means any instrument, recorded after the date of recordation of the instrument that is the subject of the curative affidavit, that affects title or constitutes the chain of title to real property, including, but not limited to, all deeds, wills, estate documents evidencing transfer of title, plats, surveys, easements, rights-of-way, outstanding mortgages and deeds of trust, judicial orders or decrees, and documents evidencing intestate succession. (3) The current record owner of the real property. (4) The attorney who prepared the instrument that is the subject of the curative affidavit, if known. (5) Any title insurance company, if applicable and known, and title insurance agent, if applicable and known, that (i) issued a policy of title insurance covering the subject property in the transaction in which the error occurred or in any subsequent transaction or (ii) proposes to issue a policy of title insurance in reliance on the proposed curative affidavit. (6) The current record owners of all adjoining properties that may be adversely affected by the recording of the curative affidavit, the current record holders of any mineral or timber rights that may be adversely affected by the recording of the curative affidavit, and the record holders of any easement rights that may be adversely affected by the recording of the curative affidavit. (d) Each person served with the notice of intent and a copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit described in subsection (c) of this section that wishes to object to the recordation of the proposed curative affidavit or dispute the facts recited in the proposed curative affidavit must do so in a writing sent in any manner provided for under subsection (e) of this section to the authorized attorney within 30 days after the service of the documents upon that person. The authorized attorney may sign and record the proposed curative affidavit at any time after more than 45 days have elapsed since the last person to be served was served with the notice of intent and a copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit. However, the authorized attorney may not record the proposed curative affidavit if, at any time before recording the proposed curative affidavit, the authorized attorney receives a written objection to the recordation of the proposed curative affidavit or a written statement disputing the facts recited in the proposed curative affidavit from any person served with the notice of intent and a copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit. (e) In complying with any requirement for objecting to the recordation of the proposed curative affidavit or disputing the facts recited in the proposed curative affidavit pursuant to this section, the objection or document disputing the facts must be addressed to the authorized attorney and shall be delivered by at least one of the following methods: (1) Delivering a copy to the authorized attorney by handing it to the authorized attorney, or by leaving it at the authorized attorney's office with a partner or employee of the authorized attorney. (2) Mailing a copy to the authorized attorney's mailing address provided in the notice of intent. (3) Sending a copy by facsimile to the authorized attorney's facsimile number provided in the notice of intent, as evidenced by a facsimile receipt confirmation. (4) Email addressed to the authorized attorney's email address provided in the notice of intent. (5) Depositing a copy prepaid with a designated delivery service authorized pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7502(f)(2) addressed to the authorized attorney's mailing address provided in the notice of intent. (f) An affidavit is sufficient as a curative affidavit if it does all of the following: (1) Contains a statement that the curative affidavit should be indexed as a "subsequent instrument" pursuant to G.S. 161-14.1. (2) Contains a statement that the curative affidavit is recorded pursuant to this section to correct an obvious description error contained in a previously recorded instrument. (3) Contains a statement that the affiant is an attorney licensed to practice law in North Carolina and is an authorized attorney pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. (4) Identifies each instrument subject to the curative affidavit by stating the title of the instrument, the parties to the instrument, and the recording data for the instrument. (5) Identifies the obvious description error contained in each instrument subject to the curative affidavit. (6) Corrects the obvious description error by stating the correct property description. (7) Contains a statement that the affiant served a copy of the notice of intent required by subsection (c) of this section and a copy of the unsigned proposed curative affidavit on all persons entitled to notice pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and that service on each such person was properly effected in a manner prescribed for the service of a summons in accordance with Rule 4(j) or Rule 4(j5) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. (8) Contains a statement that more than 45 days have elapsed since the last person to be served was served, and that before signing and recording the curative affidavit, the affiant did not receive from any person so served any written objection to the recordation of the curative affidavit or any written statement disputing the facts recited in the curative affidavit. (9) Provides the name, telephone number, email address (if available), facsimile number (if available), and mailing address of the affiant. (10) Is signed and sworn to or affirmed by the authorized attorney as affiant before a notary public, with an appropriate jurat completed by the notary public that conforms to the requirements of Chapter 10B of the General Statutes. (g) A curative affidavit recorded pursuant to this section in the office of the register of deeds in the county where the real property is located shall operate as a correction of the instrument being corrected that relates back to, and is effective as of, the date the instrument being corrected was originally recorded in the office of the register of deeds, with the same effect as if the description of the property was correct when the instrument was first recorded, and all parties to the instrument being corrected shall be bound by the terms contained in the recorded curative affidavit and the instrument being corrected. (h) Upon payment of the appropriate recordation fee, the register of deeds shall accept a curative affidavit for recording unless the curative affidavit (i) is submitted by a method or in a medium not authorized for registration by the register of deeds under applicable law, (ii) is not signed by the affiant and sworn to or affirmed as required by law for an affidavit or affirmation, or (iii) lacks a proper jurat. A copy of the previously recorded instrument to which the curative affidavit applies may be attached to or recorded with the curative affidavit and need not be a certified copy. The register of deeds shall not be required to verify or make inquiry concerning (i) the truth of the matters stated in any curative affidavit or (ii) the authority of the person executing any curative affidavit to do so. The register of deeds shall index the curative affidavit in the name of the affiant and in the names of the various parties, other than a trustee or substitute trustee named in a deed of trust, to each instrument being corrected as both grantees and grantors, irrespective of their designation in the instrument being corrected. The costs associated with the recording of a curative affidavit pursuant to this section shall be paid by the party submitting the affidavit to the register of deeds. (i) A curative affidavit recorded in compliance with this section shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. Any person who wrongfully or erroneously records a curative affidavit is liable for actual damages sustained by any party as a result of the recordation, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. (j) The remedies prescribed by this section are not exclusive and do not abrogate any rights or remedies otherwise available under the laws of this State, including any rights or remedies under G.S. 47-36.1. (k) No particular phrasing is required for a curative affidavit. A curative affidavit in substantially the following form, when properly completed, is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of subsection (f) of this section: "Curative Affidavit This curative affidavit should be indexed as a ''subsequent instrument'' pursuant to G.S. 161-14.1. I, __________ , certify as follows: 1. This curative affidavit is recorded pursuant to G.S. 47-36.2 to correct an obvious description error contained in a previously recorded instrument. 2. I am an attorney licensed to practice law in North Carolina. I am an "authorized attorney" as defined in G.S. 47-36.2(a)(1). 3. The instrument or instruments containing an obvious description error requiring correction are identified as follows: Insert here the following information regarding each instrument to be corrected: the title of the instrument, the parties to the instrument, and the recording data for the instrument. 4. The obvious description error contained in the instrument(s) to be corrected is identified or described as follows: Insert here the erroneous description that requires correction. 5. The erroneous property description is corrected to read as follows: Insert here the correct description of the real property. 6. I have served a copy of a notice of my intent to sign and record this curative affidavit and a copy of this curative affidavit, unsigned, on all persons entitled to notice pursuant to G.S. 47-36.2(c). Service on each such person was properly effected in a manner prescribed for the service of a summons in accordance with Rule 4(j) or Rule 4(j5) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, and more than 45 days have elapsed since the last person to be served was served. By signing and recording this affidavit I certify that I did not receive from any person so served any written objection to the recordation of this curative affidavit or any written statement disputing the facts recited in this curative affidavit. 7. My contact information is as follows: Insert here the affiant's name, telephone number, email address (if available), facsimile number (if available), and mailing address. Date: __________ _______________ Signature of Affiant COUNTY OF __________ , STATE OF __________ The foregoing curative affidavit was sworn to or affirmed and subscribed before me this day by __________ . Date: __________ _______________ Signature of Notary Public Official Seal _________________________________________ ,Notary Public Print or Type Notary's Name My commission expires:______ " (l) The form of the notice of intent to be given as described in subsection (c) of this section shall be substantially as follows (including capitalization and bold typeface as shown): "NOTICE OF INTENT TO CORRECT AN OBVIOUS DESCRIPTION ERROR This is an important legal document that requires your immediate attention. Your property rights may be affected, and you may need to respond to this notice in writing. I am an attorney licensed to practice law in North Carolina. My contact information is as follows: Insert the name, telephone number, email address (if available), facsimile number (if available), and mailing address of the authorized attorney issuing the notice. I have discovered or have been advised of an error in the description of real property contained in one or more instruments recorded as part of a real estate-related transaction. A copy of a proposed Curative Affidavit accompanies this notice. The proposed Curative Affidavit identifies the previously recorded instrument or instruments that contain the description errors that I plan to correct, the description error or errors that require correction, and the correct description of the real property. If I sign and record the proposed Curative Affidavit, it will have the legal effect of correcting the erroneous property description in the listed instrument or instruments that contain the description errors. Real property you own may be affected if I correct the erroneous description of the real property in the instrument or instruments identified in the proposed Curative Affidavit. You should consult with your attorney and your title insurance company, if known, promptly to determine whether and the extent to which my correction of the legal description in the instrument or instruments that need to be corrected will impact your property or property rights. IF YOU WISH TO OBJECT TO MY SIGNING AND RECORDING THE PROPOSED CURATIVE AFFIDAVIT OR DISPUTE THE FACTS RECITED IN THE PROPOSED CURATIVE AFFIDAVIT, YOU MUST DO SO IN A WRITING SENT OR DELIVERED TO ME WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE YOU WERE SERVED WITH THIS NOTICE AND THE PROPOSED CURATIVE AFFIDAVIT. Your writing must be sent or delivered to me by one of the following methods: (1) Delivering a copy by handing it to me or by leaving it at my office with a partner or employee of mine. (2) Mailing a copy to me at the mailing address provided in this notice of intent. (3) Sending a copy by facsimile to my facsimile number, if provided in this notice of intent, as evidenced by a facsimile receipt confirmation. (4) Email sent to my email address, if provided in this notice of intent. (5) Depositing a copy prepaid with a designated delivery service authorized pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7502(f)(2) addressed to the mailing address provided in this notice of intent. I am not permitted to sign or record the Curative Affidavit if, at any time before I actually sign and record it, I receive a written objection to my signing and recording the Curative Affidavit or a written statement disputing the facts contained in the Curative Affidavit from any person served with this notice and a copy of the unsigned proposed Curative Affidavit. However, assuming I do not receive any such objection or statement disputing the facts, Section 47-36.2 of the North Carolina General Statutes permits me to sign and record the Curative Affidavit at any time after more than 45 days have elapsed since the last person to be served was served with this notice and a copy of the unsigned proposed Curative Affidavit, and I intend to do so. If you object to my signing and recording the Curative Affidavit or dispute the facts recited in the proposed Curative Affidavit, you need to send or deliver your written objection or written statement disputing the facts recited in the proposed Curative Affidavit to me promptly using one of the methods described above. While I encourage you to call me if you have questions, your telephone call will not be sufficient - you must write to me if you dispute the facts recited in the proposed Curative Affidavit or object to my signing and recording the Curative Affidavit. Date: __________ _______________ Signature of authorized attorney'' (m) Nothing in this section requires that a curative affidavit be attached to an original or certified copy of a previously recorded instrument that is unchanged but rerecorded. Nothing in this section requires that a curative affidavit be attached to a copy of a previously recorded instrument that includes identified corrections or an original execution by a party or parties of the corrected instrument after the original recording with proof or acknowledgment of their execution of the correction of the instrument. (n) The period prescribed for the commencement of an action contesting the validity or efficacy of a curative affidavit recorded under this statute shall be one year from the date of recordation of the curative affidavit. This subsection does not apply to an action for damages sustained by any party as a result of the wrongful or erroneous recordation of a curative affidavit as provided in subsection (i) of this section. (2017-110, s. 2; 2021-91, s. 12; 2025-25, s. 29(1).)

Source: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)URL: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_47.htmlFetched: 10/19/2026